Loida Garcia-Febo is the 2018-2019 American Library Association President. She is an inspiring figure sharing the important message that Libraries = Strong Communities. In this interview, you will hear her talk about her experiences traveling to libraries across the country to see the many inspirations out in the field, along with the challenges in libraries with which ALA can help.

She shares an important vision for diversity and inclusion and talks about what ignites her soul on fire while offering advice for each of us to develop our own passions in libraries. You will leave with outstanding resources and insights about ways to serve with love, another message she is sharing during her term.

Full Transcript

This podcast is brought to you by the School of Library and
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This is Adrian Herrick Juarez. You’re listening to Library
Leadership Podcast where we talk about libraries and leadership and speak with
guests who share their ideas, innovations, and strategic insights into the
profession. Loida Garcia-Febo is 2018, 2019 American Library Association
President. She’s an inspiring figure, sharing the important message that
libraries equal strong communities.

In this interview you will hear her talk about her
experiences traveling to libraries across the country to see the many
inspirations out in the field, along with the challenges in libraries with
which ALA can help. She shares an important vision for diversity, and
inclusion, and talks about what ignites her soul on fire while offering advice
for each of us to develop our own passions in libraries. You will leave with
outstanding resources and insights about ways to serve with love, another
message she’s sharing during her term. Enjoy today’s show. Welcome, Loida.

Well, I’m thrilled and I would like to say that I always
admire people who are willing to step into leadership roles. ALA president is
an important position and you’ve provided inspiration to so many people
already. Thank you for that. Can you share with us what helped you decide to
run for ALA president? That’s a big decision.

Yes, it is. I’m happy that you asked that question because
that way I can share with everyone a little bit about myself. I am a librarian,
and I am an activist. I serve as a library advocate every day and wholeheartedly
believe that together the ALA members and I can bring change to benefit our
profession and the communities we serve.

I based my decision to run for a president on my experience
advocating for libraries in streets and sidewalks of New York City, where I
live, and at the New York City, City Hall, New York State Senate, the U.S.
Congress, and at the United Nations. I have had great success in terms of
advocating for libraries in those areas.

Also, my background growing up as the daughter of a
community organizer, and as the daughter of a school librarian, that definitely
had an impact on my upbringing. I have also enjoyed, tremendously, serving
communities as an academic, professional, and school librarian in Puerto Rico,
and a public librarian in Queens. So, when my colleagues started calling me,
asking to run for ALA president, I thought this was an extension of what I’ve
been doing my entire life. It has a nice, organic flow with my activism, and
advocacy work, and my love for communities.

Well, we are so fortunate you bring all of this to the role
and you made that decision. Library leadership is both rewarding and
challenging, as you know. You’ve been traveling to visit with librarians across
the country. What are you seeing out in the field that is inspiring you, and
what challenges are you seeing that ALA can help librarians with?

I love this question. As I wrote in my recent column for
American Libraries Magazine, I am inspired by the renewed love I see for the
communities we serve. I’ve been visiting libraries around the country and I
have witnessed how this spirit of diversity, inclusiveness, and relationship
building is alive in our community. It is beautiful to see how librarians are
embracing this. That is very inspiring and that is still very true to me.

At the same time, serving the community is challenging. From
time to time we read about barriers to access of information which is at the
core of what we as library workers and libraries do. ALA is here to help
library workers to advocate, to provide access to information to all in the
communities, including people with disabilities, those speaking languages other
than English, immigrants, refugees, LGBT, to a population of seniors, children,
parents, families.

ALA has an office of Library Advocacy. We also have an
Office for Intellectual Freedom. We have the Washington office to help library
workers with materials, training, webinars, one-on-one advice, and much more.
For instance, we need to continue to be vigilant about the rights and legal
matters that might prevent us from lending materials.

For about three years, ALA library advocates successfully advocated
for the ratification of the Marrakesh treaty to help people with reading
barriers due to blindness, low vision, dyslexia, or a physical disability. And,
we did it, we did that, that’s wonderful. But, there are other barriers that
prevent some people from using bathrooms or from having library cards,
therefore, preventing them from accessing information at libraries. So, we need
to continue advocating and supporting measures that make accessing information
at libraries equal for all. ALA is here to work with you, with the offices and
nations, providing the resources that we have to ensure that everyone has
access to information.

That’s fantastic, this rich diversity that everyone brings
to the library and can get help with… I know that as Caribbean woman with
Spanish, Greek, African, and Taino blood, you bring to your role many of the
experiences from these groups, and you have a global and inclusionary
perspective to your work. One of your key presidential efforts is in the area
of diversity. Will you tell us about that?

Yes, diversity, I want to say equity, diversity, and
inclusion – which is a strategic direction of ALA, is very important to me. My
most recent column for American Libraries Magazine is all about this and about
how library workers can serve our communities with love. Also, I am working
with a wonderful advisory board to build on ALA’s existing work in this area.

This team and I have been in contact with the ALA Office for
Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services, and joined with them. We are
following in the footsteps of ALA past president, Molly Raphael’s Diverse
Voices video series, which highlighted ALA leaders from diverse backgrounds. In
our case now, forward a number of years, ALA will launch a new video series. This
time we’re going to highlight why and how we can embed principles of diversity
in our libraries.

We are very excited, and have already seen pilot videos
featuring ALA executive board members. We are ready to record more videos
during our Midwinter meeting in Seattle, this coming January. Additionally, we
are going to present a number of free webinars about diversity and serving all
in our communities. We started this series with a first one titled, The Heart of the Library, with Dr.
Michael Stephens. The recording is already available on the ALA-APA website. We
are working with the system so that it’s also available for people that are accessing
the recording on smaller devices. Because, there are many international
colleagues that would like to access these webinars that way, and that is on
the work.

On the other side, I also want to mention that on the staff
side of ALA, I am happy to share that ALA staff members have started a series
of training focused on diversity. I’m very happy, and I am supporting that. I
forgot it is happening. Finally, I want to encourage everyone to attend our
Midwinter meeting in Seattle.

Robin DiAngelo is the featured speaker in my President’s
Program. She is the author of White
Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism. She’s
going to this cause, the phenomenon of white fragility, offering examples of
what it might look like as well as what people can do it to engage more
constructively in conversation about racism that are often so difficult. But, I
believe that as a profession we have made progress in recognizing these systems
of oppression.

However, we must address these foundational issues before
being able to truly come together and move forward as a unified community. So,
my plans in the area of diversity include many components. I am glad to say
that my team and the librarians I have spoken to across the country, are
embracing these, and that is very good, and very inspiring.

Thank you for bringing attention to this area. You’ve been
sharing the message that libraries equal strong communities, a sentiment that
all librarians wish to get out about the work that we do. As ALA president,
what can you share that will help all of us spread the word about this
important message?

Yes, libraries, indeed, equal strong communities. Libraries
save lives of many people, every day. But, we do face challenges because
libraries and library workers have to constantly fight for budget to keep
libraries open, adequately staffed, and with equipment and materials to help
community members. We need everyone’s support. This is why I’m going around the
country on a tour titled, Libraries = Strong Communities, to advocate for
libraries, and to raise the profile of libraries, and the value of libraries,
and library workers.

I want to share the stories of libraries providing help to
job seekers, to first-generation college students, and those seeking to find
information about health conditions. Libraries are saving lives and we must
amplify this message to Congress, state senate, city councils, and school
trustees, for instance.

So, I want libraries and library workers to know that we
have created a website. We have press release templates, photos, and other
materials to help them to replicate advocacy events in their own areas. It’s
all on the ALA website. The ALA staff members also created the frame for
Facebook and Instagram profile. If someone would like to use those I will
encourage them to check them out and I’m happy to share the link later with
you. Perhaps there’s a way of sharing with our audience. But, it’s definitely
on the ALA website and they can search for Libraries = Strong Communities.

So far, we had two tour stops where we rally for libraries.
The first one was Pikes Peak Library District. The second one was at the
Cambridge Public Library. We went from Colorado to Massachusetts and they have
been very successful, fantastic events. We include all types of libraries. I
got in public school libraries, we’ve got state library associations, local
community organizations, and also we invited elected officials.

For instance, in Colorado we received support from an
elected official. The president of the Chamber of Commerce spoke about how
libraries are helping business owners. We also had the presence of the
President of the Colorado Library Association and the State Library. In both,
everybody spoke about the great things happening in Colorado.

In my case, because I want to call attention to local issues,
I did share examples of stories of libraries in Pikes Peak, and how they are
strengthening the community. In that particular instance, I wanted to support
local libraries that were facing some ballot measures, and the elections that
just passed. So, I spoke about supporting libraries on the ballot.

In Cambridge, we had the mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts,
and the President of the Library Association there. This is all to say that
there is tremendous support for libraries out there but we do need to go
through that effort reaching out to their organizations, elected officials, and
different stakeholders. But, it’s great because that way then we can use those
examples to amplify our message and garner more support for libraries.

I am very glad that the TV stations and many newspapers have
featured the National Library Tour, even The Horn Book wrote about the tour in
Cambridge. So, we are making the news. That is beautiful, and that is
encouraging. I hope these events, which people can read in articles published
at American Libraries, can inspire others to create their own advocacy event in
the local area.

I am here to help in any way I can. The ALA staff members
have been amazing. They have created so many resources that are available
online. I just want to mention again that our colleagues can go to the ALA
website, and look for Libraries = Strong Communities to access the toolkit that
has been created for this.

Absolutely, fantastic, I’m sure we will all look for that
and get involved. In July, you gave a keynote at the Ohio Library Leadership
Institute on Be Fearless in the Search
for What Ignites Your Soul on Fire. Loida, what ignites your soul on fire,
and what advice can you give all of us in our own personal search?

I really love that talk. The title just came to me. I also
gave a variation of that talk at the University of Puerto Rico’s Elias school
graduation. So, it’s – I love it. My advice, in my experience, when you do what
you’re passionate about, what you like, and enjoy immensely, that is when you
can really develop your maximum potential. But, you cannot use another person’s
fire. You can only use your own fire and to do this, first people must be
willing to believe that they have that fire.

Definitely, I think I speak for the profession when I say
that we are all pleased and grateful that you share your fire and are serving
at the helm of the American Library Association. Thank you for all you’re
doing. This is a big job. And, fortunately, no one has to do it alone. What can
all of us do out in the field to make your term a success?

Thank you so much. I really love what I’m doing. I love
libraries and our mission of providing access to information to all. I am a
person who enjoys participatory processes and I bring these into my
association’s work. I have a great team, my advisory board. They are the ones
who have coordinated all the various presidential efforts.

It is from library workers, for library workers. The ALA
executive board is an amazing team, as well as very dedicated and passionate
leaders. And, as you say, I am only one person. I can only do this because I
work with a great team and so I’m very grateful for it. In terms of the rest of
the 58,000 ALA members, the membership in this invincible team, which I respect
tremendously, it is my hope that we are encouraged by their work.

Library workers in our country and around the world are
carrying out to serve everyone in their communities, and we all support it. If
you ask me how they fit into my vision for ALA, I will say that public support
for many of the efforts I mentioned today might encourage all the libraries to
look into their city, within their workforce, highlight wellness resources for
their library, engage in international professional exchanges, and global
collaboration, advocate for libraries to continue open to provide services
needed by all the communities they serve.

Above all, I believe that it is key that we keep in mind
that the work we do can help save lives, better lives, and bring hope to fellow
human beings. We are striving to provide access to information, which is a
human right of everyone in the community. We need everyone’s help. I would like
to encourage everyone to continue working together, to continue building
communities, because as my theme for this year’s tour, Libraries, indeed, equal
Strong Communities.

Well, I just recently downloaded a book from Hans Rosling.
He’s an amazing international expert on international health. He just published
a book this year called Factfulness,
basically, ten reasons we are wrong about the world and why things are better
than you think, and they are. This book is amazingly good for leaders, too. It
really inspires. It is inspiring me, I haven’t finished it. He helped us to
encourage, motivate, and inspire others.

This book, by the way, was distributed by Bill Gates to a
student graduating class that he attended, the graduation services. He gave a
copy to each one of them. Also, past President Barack Obama recommended the
book. I was happy to find that out after I downloaded the book. So, it’s a good
book. One thing about the author, I want to mention quickly, is that Hans
Rosling was a keynote speaker at the 2010 conference of IFLA, the International
Federation of Library Association, in Sweden. I was very happy to see his name
and see the book, and that’s why I downloaded the book. I realized that this is
the book that is now a worldwide-recognized book. So, it’s wonderful. I hope
people can have the chance to look at it, and read it.

Thank you for this opportunity. I am very happy to talk to
you mostly because it comes from the state of Utah, and I haven’t had much
direct contact with that state. I do know wonderful people from the Salt Lake
Library, and now I’m happy that I know you, too.

This is a great opportunity to share my efforts and to move
forward at libraries, in our profession, and also ALA. My message is the same,
is that I want to encourage everyone to continue working together, so we can
move mountains, and stop the presses, and is powerful. But, the work of our
58,000 ALA team members – that makes us visible. I wholeheartedly believe that
together we can move mountains.

Being a librarian means that I can affect people’s lives. I
can help save lives and bring hope. Libraries are the cornerstones of
democracy. I can help communities, and by helping them I can help cities, our
country, and the world. It is a privilege to be able to do that.

Loida, it is a great inspiration talking with you. Thank you
for your amazing service as president of the ALA. I know we’re all excited to
see so many wonderful things to come as you continue in your term. We’ll all be
out here rooting for you and helping, and spreading the message. So, it’s been
great to talk to you. Thank you again for being on the show.

You’ve been listening to Library Leadership Podcast. I’m
your host, Adrian Herrick Juarez. Our producer is Nate Vineyard. More episodes
can be found at libraryleadershippodcast.com,
where you can now subscribe to have new shows delivered right into your email
inbox. You can also find the show on Apple iTunes, or wherever you get your
podcasts. Thank you for listening. We’ll see you next time.

Why We Burned Our First Leadership Book, or How to Develop a Leadership Path that Holds Personal Meaning

Presenter: Adriane Herrick Jaurez

Co-Presenter : Becca Lael – Park City Library

Utah Library Association Conference

Thursday, May 16, 1:30-2:20pm

Mountain America Expo Center

How can we develop a leadership path that holds personal meaning? Inspired by interviews from the Library Leadership Podcast, a variety of strategic insights will show us how everyone can improve their leadership to personally shape their workplace, the community they serve, and the trajectory of the library profession. Attendees will learn how one library manager’s leadership path was transformed to include personal meaning, resulting in braver development.

Commencement Speaker for the Graduation of the Utah State Regional Master of Library Science ProgramFriday, January 5, 7:00pm Viridian Event Center I will be giving a commencement speech for the graduating class of Cohort 12.

Utah State History Conference
October 10th– 11th, 2017 Rio Grande Depot, 300 S. Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, UT Honoring the Past, Moving Into the Future: The Renovation of the Historic Park City Library that Developed a Dynamic 21st Century Library while Achieving National Historic Register Designation.

Nevada/Mountain Plains Library Association Joint ConferenceOctober 16th – 18th, 2017 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 50 US-50, Stateline, NV89449
Lightning-round presentation on how The Park City Library recently underwent a $9.6M library renovation that included the creation of a media lab that included a sound booth, green screen, film equipment, and other high tech amenities to foster independent media production in a ‘film-centric’ mountain town that is accessible to everyone, not just movie producers.